| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Alkahest by Honore de Balzac: him the finest known collection of tulips.
Besides these hereditary riches, which represented an enormous
capital, and were the choice ornament of the venerable house,--a house
that was simple as a shell outside but, like a shell, adorned within
by pearls of price and glowing with rich color,--Balthazar Claes
possessed a country-house on the plain of Orchies, not far from Douai.
Instead of basing his expenses, as Frenchmen do, upon his revenues, he
followed the old Dutch custom of spending only a fourth of his income.
Twelve hundred ducats a year put his costs of living at a level with
those of the richest men of the place. The promulgation of the Civil
Code proved the wisdom of this course. Compelling, as it did, the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: "Complaint and indictment! affair in the police court!" cried Lupin.
"Oh! that would be grand!"
"Glorious!" said Soudry, candidly. "What happiness to see the Comte de
Montcornet, grand cross of the Legion of honor, commander of the Order
of Saint Louis, and lieutenant-general, accused of having attempted,
in a public resort, the virtue--just think of it!"
"He loves his wife too well," said Lupin, reflectively. "He couldn't
be got to that."
"That's no obstacle," remarked Rigou; "but I don't know a single girl
in the whole arrondissement who is capable of making a sinner of a
saint. I have been looking out for one for the abbe."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: the Imperial senator Malin against your attacks. He is afraid of you,
and says so openly."
"It is a calumny!" cried the younger Simeuse.
"A calumny,--I am sure of it myself, but will the public believe it?
Michu certainly did aim at the senator, who does not forget the danger
he was in; and since your return the countess has taken Michu into her
service. To many persons, in fact to the majority, Malin will seem to
be in the right. You do not understand how delicate the position of an
/emigre/ is towards those who are now in possession of his property.
The prefect, a very intelligent man, dropped a word to me yesterday
about you which has made me uneasy. In short, I sincerely wish you
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